Ecological Restoration in the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park - LIFE05NAT/RO/000155 -

1. Ecological Restoration in the
Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park
9-11 May, 2012
- LIFE05NAT/RO/000155-

2. The Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park– 8247 ha
Represents a gate to the It covers the administrative
Biosphere Reserve Danube territory of nine settlements;
Delta; Forms the frontier with the
It is part of the route of Republic of Moldavia;
three major migration It is an area of 8247 ha
corridors of the birds surface and a length of about
hatching on the Eurasian 145 km;
territory; Includes more types of
The Lower Prut was natural or improved aquatic
proposed to be included in the ecosystems:
program the Lower Danube -4925 ha ponds, lakes,
Green Corridor, carried out swamps
with the support of WWF; -2627 ha forests and wet
It is a potential Ramsar pastures
Site -other small areas.
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3. Ecological restoration of the Lower Prut
Floodplain Natural Park
(LIFE05NAT/RO/000155)
Name of applicant: Regional Environmental Protection
Agency Galaţi
Name of partners:
(1): University of Bucharest – Centre for Environmental
Reserach and Impact Studies (CERIS)
(2): Romanian Ornithological Society (ROS)
(3): Galaţi Forestry District (GFD)
Co-financiar: County Council Galaţi
Project start date:01/11/2005
Project end date:30/10/2010

4. PROJECT OBJECTIVE
(LIFE05NAT/RO/000155)
The project’s objective was to improve the conservation status
of aquatic bird species in the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural
Park, through a series of strategic interventions involving:
• scientific inventory,
• monitoring activities,
• sites restoration,
• raising awareness activities,
• implementation of the park management plan and
• designating Special Protected Areas - Romanian Natura 2000
sites.

5. MAIN THREATS TO THE HABITATS/SPECIES TARGETED
WITHIN THE SITES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT
The lack of adequate measures for species conservation as a result of
poor data existing related to the habitats, plant and animal species in the
area,
Lack of a unitary administration of the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural
Park
Lack of Parck zoning,
Extensive use of biocides and fertilizers in agriculture and wastes from
agriculture,
Human disturbances during birds breeding season,
Degradation of hydrotechnical structures,
Lack of public awareness regarding the importance of NATURA2000
sites,
Ineffective control of the economic activities (fishing, agriculture,
tourism),
Inappropriate management of the water resources

6. The project’s major objective was accomplished by:
Inventorying the ecological potential of the LPFN Park
Results:
o Inventorying Report of non-biota resources from the LPFN Park,
o Inventorying Report of the flora and vegetation from the Lower LPFN Park,
o Inventorying Report of the birds population from the LPFN Park,
o Inventorying Report of the fauna from LPFN Park,
o Identifying the sites possible to be included in the NATURA 2000 Network, according
to the Format standards of the European Commission (NATURA 2000 Standard Data
Form),
o Report on the support and regeneration capacity of the natural systems,
o Red List of the plant and animal species from LPFN Park
Establishment and implementing a Geographic Information System for the Lower
Prut Floodplain
Results:
o training courses for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) system using the
Manifold products
o GIS was designed to ensure the spatial unitary representation of the ecological elements
from the Lower Prut Floodplain

7. The project’s major objective was accomplished by:
Socio-economic evaluation of Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park
of the Prut and environment impact assessment of activities
achieved in this area
o Report regarding socio-economic assessment of the rural settlements from the
Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park,
o Report on the environmental impact assessment of the activities / arrangements
from the wetland area or its proximity
Establishment an integrated management plan in Lower Prut
Floodplain Natural Park, in accordance with requirements of the
Romanian legislation, Habitat Directive and Birds Directive.
Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area
located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (Vlăşcuţa Lake,
Pochina Lake and Maţa Lake)

8. MAŢA LAKE
Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area
located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park
(Vlăşcuţa Lake, Pochina Lake and Maţa Lake)
POCHINA LAKE
Site 1: Vlăşcuţa Lake
The two channels for Vlăşcuţa Lake (in total
length of about 542 m) were reshaped and
consolidated, so that they assure the supply
and the evacuation from/to lake/river Prut,
subject to necessary water level of the lake.
The channels were provided with gates for
VLĂŞCUŢA LAKE water retention or evacuation, so that to be
366m activated when the level water of the lake is
required. Small bridges to pass from one
side of the channel to other ones were
mounted on each channel.
176m

9. Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area
located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park
(Vlăscuţa Lake)
Vlăscuţa Lake channels – before works Vlăscuţa Lake channels –during works

10. MAŢA LAKE
Restoration of aquatic birds sites in the natural protected area
located in Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (Pochina Lake)
365m The ecological reconstruction
POCHINA LAKE works made in 2009 consisted of
the rehabilitation of the two
channels, witch connect Pochina
Lake and Prut River, respectively
the water supply channel (362 m)
235m
and evacuation channel (235 m)
and removal of mud the lake. In
order to maintain water levels
VLĂŞCUŢA LAKE
have been achieved water gate
for lake’s water level
maintenance and one small
Pochina Lake channels bridge for pedestrians.
– before works
During the works
Completed works

11. q
protected area located in Lower Prut Floodplain
Natural Park
(Mata Lake)
MAŢA LAKE
The rehabilitation
works of Maţa
Lake, consisted of
POCHINA LAKE filling with soil
and gravel and
compacting the
gaps that appeared
in the dykes, was
VLĂŞCUŢA LAKE done for the
separation dyke
(1800 m) between
Maţa area and
Cârja pond (Vaslui
County), and the
dyke from east
Maţa area, (3600
During the works m).

12. Results of the restoration works
The restoration works provided in the project for Maţa,
Pochina and Vlăşcuţa lakes allows enlarging of the water
surface necessary for feeding and nesting of birds for a long
period of the year. The main results achieved are:
better conditions for the birds population,
increasing the number for aquatic bird species (especially
those listed in Annex I of Birds Directive, Bern Convention
and in ORNIS lists),
improve the trophic state and saprobity of the target
aquatic systems,
allowing the water oxygenation of the lakes through the
input of the fresh water from the Prut River,
including the monitoring birds’ protocols in the adaptive
Management Plan of Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park.
www.luncaprut.ro
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13. LOWER PRUT FLOODPLAIN NATURAL PARK –
in Natura 2000 Network
Gomphus flavipes
Callimorpha quadripunctaria
Emys orbicularis

14. LOWER PRUT FLOODPLAIN NATURAL PARK –
in Natura 2000 Network
„Habitat” Directive „Birds”Directive
Annex 1: Natural habitat types of
Community interest whose
conservation requires the
designation of special areas of
conservation
8 habitat types
Annex 2: Species of Community Annex 2: Species subject to special
interest whose conservation conservation measures concerning
requires the designation of special their habitat to ensure survival
areas of habitat and reproduction in their area of
1 mammlian species distribution
3 amphibian and reptile species 65 bird species
9 fish species
1 invertebrate species
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15. Success factors of LIFE project –
LIFE05NAT/RO/000155
Highly engaged key actors: mayors of the villages from
LPFN Park vicinity, county council president,
representatives of interest groups, consulting offices,
working groups,
Increasing interest shown by local authorities for the area
Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park,
Forming a positive attitude to children and residents on
the environment (although the area is relatively poor, the
information panels and watch towers, made in the frame of
the project were not damaged or destroyed by the local
people),
Encouraging the involvement of local people in the
environmental conservation activities carried out in the
target area.

16. Potential and expectation
Priorities for socio-
economic
development of the
localities from the
vicinity of Park Lower
Prut Floodplain are:
supply the potential
of fisherie resources,
using the potential
of providing services
for turism and
recreation
in a sustainable
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manner that will not www.luncaprut.ro
ff i d

17. Prut River - RAMSAR SITE
LOCALIZATION:
Iasi, Vaslui, Galati
SURFACE: 20370
ha
The micro delta features, with inner lakes, canals and dead
river branches support high diversity of plant and animal
species.
Being a component of the East-Elbic migration route, the Prut
Floodplain represents an important staging area for most of
migratory species.
during migration in spring and autumn, over 20000 birds
can be recorded.
227 bird species, from the total of about 500 European bird
species, inhabit in the site, breeding, nesting, wintering or in
migration.

18. Benefits of Ramsar Designation
Increased Funding Opportunities - Ramsar designation helps with grant
applications and other funding requests for land acquisition, restoration, and
education initiatives.
Support for Protection of the Site and Surrounding Area - Ramsar
designation can make acquisition of surrounding lands easier, can encourage
partnerships that focus on watershed conservation efforts, and can be useful in
dealing with off-site development that could threaten the site.
Increased Science and Tourism - Ramsar designation typically leads to
increased attention to a site, which can lead to increased interest by the
scientific community. Public awareness of a site’s Ramsar designation can
highlight the site’s importance, leading to an increase in tourism.

19. THANK YOU !